Agenda item

(To receive a report from Kate Rouse, Interim Head of School Standards, which provides the Committee with an update regarding standards within the sector led system)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Kate Rouse, Interim Head of School Standards, which provided the Committee with an update regarding standards within the sector led system.

In guiding the Committee through the report, reference was made to details of the high level summary as shown on pages 19 to 21 of the report, which covered:-

·       Early Years (aged 5) – It was reported that the percentage of Lincolnshire pupils achieving a good level of development in 2019 had increased to 70% compared to 69% in 2018.  It was noted that the increase was in-line with statistical neighbour average, which had increased by 1% since 2018.  It was also highlighted that the percentage of Special Educational Needs (SEN) support pupils achieving a Good Level of Development in Lincolnshire was below its comparators; and that the gap between Lincolnshire and National remained at 4%;

·       Phonics Screening Check (aged 6) – It was noted that the percentage of children meeting the expected standard by Year 1 in Lincolnshire was in line with East Midlands and statistical neighbours, with Lincolnshire remaining 1% below the National figure;

·       Key Stage 1 (aged 7) – The Committee noted that this was a local measure of Reading, Writing and Mathematics combined and that the measure had dropped from 62.2% in 2018 to 61.5% in 2019.  It was noted further that Free School Meal (FSM) Eligible were performing less well than National in Reading, Writing and Maths; and that the support of SEN support pupils was below National, East Midlands and Statistical Neighbours in each of the three areas;

·       Key Stage 2 (aged 11) – It was highlighted that Lincolnshire had improved in this measure since the previous year to 61% in 2019; however, Lincolnshire was below the National expected standard in Reading, Writing and Mathematics by 4%, below East Midlands by 2% and below Statistical Neighbours Average by 2%.  It was highlighted further that Lincolnshire's performance in attainment had seen a 4% increase in Mathematics, 1% increase in Writing and 3% decrease in Reading, compared to 2018.  It was reported that the percentage of FSM Eligible pupils had improved by 2% compared to 2018; and pupils receiving SEN support achieving the expected standard had improved by 1%, it was highlighted that this was still below the National level; and

·       Key Stage 4 (aged 16) – The Committee was reminded that 2018 had been the first year of the new numbered grading system for GCSEs.  It was highlighted that Lincolnshire was currently lower than National but higher than East Midlands and Statistical neighbour in the percentage of pupils achieving 9-5 in English and Maths GCSE.  It was noted that the percentage of pupils achieving English and Mathematics (strong 9-5) in Lincolnshire was 42.5%, which was 0.9% below National, 0.4% above East Midlands and 1.5% above Statistical neighbours.  The Committee was advised that Lincolnshire's average Attainment 8 score of 46.8 per pupil was in line with National, 1 point above East Midlands and 1.2 points above Statistical Neighbours.  It was noted that the performance of Lincolnshire's SEN support pupils was above the National and East Midlands for average Attainment 8 Score.   

Attached to the report at Appendix A was a copy of the Key Numbers report for 2019 for the Committee to consider.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following points:-

·       Some concern was expressed that the Key Stage 1 and 2 figures were not quite as good for local authority schools.  Officers confirmed that the data referred to all Lincolnshire Schools; 

·       A question was asked as to whether data provided could be drilled down further to specific schools and postcodes, to identify how disadvantaged children were performing.  Officers confirmed that this information was available through local leads. The Committee noted that schools held that data to enable them to prioritise intervention to where it was needed most.  The Committee also noted that schools were funded through the national funding formula which included an element for deprivation to enable schools to meet that need;

·       The difficulties experienced by smaller schools in responding to the new Ofsted framework.  Reassurance was given that even though rural schools did not have the facilities of larger schools, the teachers were very dedicated and were doing the best that they could; and that it was very challenging for them.  It was highlighted that the government was committed to conducting a review of small schools and that Lincolnshire was part of that review to ensure that the challenges that Lincolnshire faced were highlighted;

·       The need to encourage reading between parents and children.  The Committee was advised that this was a matter being dealt with as part of the Early Years Strategy; and that this would be considered by the Committee at the 24 April 2020 meeting.  The Committee noted that the local authority through teaching hubs, teaching schools etc., was helping to co-ordinate the schools system and that it was not the role of the authority to improve results.  It was highlighted that some schools had already introduced initiatives to encourage children to read more; and 

·       It was realised that there was still more work to do and that the Early Years Strategy would help to improve performance at Key Stages 1 and 2.

RESOLVED

That the report concerning the Lincolnshire Local Authority School performance 2018/19 be received and that the comments raised be noted.